Zind Humbrecht Super Deal; Spanish Perfection: 100 Point Clos Erasmus – Just Arrived; Jump Start November Sale; Magnum Madness; New November Sales: Casanova di Neri, Isole e Olena & Lopez de Heredia; Paitin: Barbaresco of Finesse; Eugen Muller: Kirchenstuck Vineyard; Thanksgiving Wines: Domaine Drouhin in Oregon, Andre Clouet Champagne and Zind Humbrecht Super Deals; New Review from John Gilman for Crowley Wines – Arriving Next Week; Orientali di Fruili: Miani; Domaine Faiveley: 2014 Releases & Special Selection of Here Now Wines; Beaucastel En Primeur: 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape; Sherry: Ancient Wines Arriving Soon from Toro Albala & Conde de Aldama – Bodegas Yuste; Late Breaking News: Cameron Single Vineyards; November Sales Recap
Zind Humbrecht
Less Than Half-Price Super Deal
Arriving November 11th
Domaine Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Herrenweg de Turckheim Vieilles Vignes Vendange Tardive, Alsace 2011 750ML ($69.95) $31.90 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Domaine Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Herrenweg de Turckheim Vieilles Vignes Vendange Tardive, Alsace 2011 750ML ($719.95) $179 pre-arrival special (that’s only $29.83/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 95 points “Lacy in texture and seamlessly integrated, this off-dry, lightly honeyed version features racy acidity, providing fine balance and enlivening notes of mango puree, lychee, grapefruit granita, honeycomb and apricot. Hints of smoke and wax linger on the lush, mineral-driven finish. Drink now through 2030. 40 cases imported.”
These bottles arriving directly from the Domaine cellar!
Best ever price in the USA!
The next best price is for the half-bottle: $34.96
For more incredible deals from Zind Humbrecht arriving next week, keep reading!
Spanish Perfection:
100 Point Clos Erasmus – Just Arrived
Clos i Terrasses Clos Erasmus, Priorat DOCa 2013 750ML ($249.95) $219 special, 11 bottles available
Wine Advocate 100 points “I also tasted two vintages of the top wine, starting with the 2013 Clos Erasmus, which follows the line towards more freshness, less oak and extraction started with 2012. It’s mostly Garnacha, with some 25% Syrah, fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged mostly in French oak barriques (40% new), plus a couple of amphorae where it matured until bottling at the end of May 2015. I had followed the 2013 since before it was bottled, and every time I tasted it I liked it better and better, and I formed the idea that it was the purest, most elegant Erasmus ever produced. I was really eager to taste the bottled version of it, which I hadn’t encountered until this day. And I can tell you, it didn’t disappoint me at all. In fact, it was probably better than what I tasted before bottling. It’s the essence of Garnacha put through a sieve of slate, with some subtle spices, with an ethereal quality I had never before seen in this wine. The palate is silky, with a seamless texture. It combines the finest fabric with the essence of the dusty roads from Priorat, elegant and rustic at the same time, like the proverbial British farmer dressed in the best corduroy trousers and tweed jacket, beautifully textured. The wet slate and the Mediterranean herbs take over the aromatic front with time in the glass, and it kept changing over the course of two hours that I followed the wine in the glass, with more and more nuances and filigree every time I went back for it. It’s approachable now but I foresee a long and positive evolution in the bottle for 15+ years. The opened bottled kept fresh for a couple of days. I wish I could time travel to the future and taste it then… I think this really merits a perfect score.”
Jump Start New November Sale
Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2011 750ML ($59.95) Was $44.90, Now $39, 36+ bottles available here now
Grapelive 93+ points “It was a pleasure to meet Giavanni Neri and taste through the latest Casanova di Neri wines. Casanova di Neri is one of Italy’s great wineries and a blue chip standard Brunello year after year. The new set of Casanova di Neri is an amazing lineup from the humble Rosso di Neri to the mind-blowing perfection of the 2010 Cerretalto Brunello! Of course, I was most interested in the soon to be released 2011 Brunello offerings, and how they’d compare to the 2010’s. Similar to 2011 Barolo, these wines gained from the warmer summer heat, these are more generous wines with sweeter tannins and will be easy to please in their youth. Casanova di Neri really did a great job here as these Sangiovese Grosso Brunello di Montalcino 2011’s both have balance, depth and vitality. The 2011 Casanova di Neri White Label, the Brunello Normale, is full of flavor, extract and energy with ripe fruit, structure to match and pleasing mouth feel. [It] starts with a touch of graphite/flint, red raspberry, sweet minty herbs, light floral tones and cigar wrapper leading to a full and round palate of blackberry, cherry, spiced plum and wild strawberry fruits along with cedar, black fig, anise and warm stones. The body is lavishly textured, but there is lift and vigor with just enough acidity and fine tannin to frame this spot on Brunello. This will be a sleeper, while most people will chase the top end wines and or keep tracking down 2010’s this looks set to be a great wine that might get overlooked. That will be a mistake: this is one to have and drink over the next decade. It’s very nice stuff.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Casanova di Neri’s 2011 Brunello di Montalcino is a very pretty and expressive wine. Sweet red cherry, menthol, rose petal and mint open up first, followed by a touch of blood orange that adds lovely aromatic lift and brightness throughout. Although not especially complex, the 2011 should drink beautifully for at least a handful of years. Today, it is quite pretty and expressive.”
Wine Advocate 92 points “Giacomo Neri has produced a very approachable wine in this warm vintage. The 2011 Brunello di Montalcino is plump and juicy with loads of dark fruit and mild spice at the back. It doesn’t have the depth or complexity of the gorgeous 2010 vintage, but the wine does a very good job presenting the main traits you look for in Brunello. The fruit is lively and the acidity gives the wine a sense of buoyancy and brightness. The tannins are very well integrated. It doesn’t reach Brunello greatness, but it is a good Brunello.”
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $53
We’re up to 52 wines on sale now through the month of November. Don’t miss the three more newly added sales below!
Magnum Madness!
We offer 103 wines in magnum that are in stock and available here now. Browse a selection from around the world below or see the full list by visiting our web site at www.vinopoliswineshop.com
Gaston Chiquet Carte Verte Premier Cru Brut Tradition, Champagne NV 1.5L ($99.95) $89 special, 3 magnums available
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “Light yellow. Suave, floral aromas of poached pear, blood orange, melon and honey. A dusty mineral quality adds lift to spicy red berry and citrus fruit flavors. Closes nervy and long, with resonating minerality and a touch of gingerbread.” ST
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $99.99
Domaine de la Bastide Blanche Bandol Rose, Provence 2015 1.5L ($59.95) $49 special, 9 magnums available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “Brilliant orange-pink. Displays vibrant, mineral-accented blood orange and redcurrant scents and suggestions of succulent herbs and pungent flowers. Fleshy, spicy and dry, offering bitter orange pith and berry skin flavors given lift and cut by juicy acidity. Lingers with strong, mineral-driven authority, leaving a suave touch of honeysuckle behind.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Marcel Lapierre Morgon Camille, Beaujolais 2014 1.5L ($119.95) $89 special, 15 magnums available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “Bright ruby. Deep-pitched cherry and dark berry aromas are complemented by suggestions of licorice and candied flowers. Plush and round in character, offering gently sweet blackberry and cherry flavors energized by a suggestion of peppery spices. Finishes smooth, sappy and broad, revealing lingering sweetness and very soft tannins.”
VinopolNote: Cuvee Camille is second only to Cuvee Marcel in the Lapierre Morgon hierarchy and is an extremely limited release, typically not distributed in the USA. It is made from selected 50-75 year old vines on the Lapierre estate. Camille is the daughter of the late Marcel Lapierre and works now alongside of her brother, Mathieu, in the ongoing excellence of all that is Lapierre.
Chateau de Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhone 2015 1.5L ($29.95) $24 special, 21 magnums available
Grapelive 92 points “Louis Barruol’s Chateau de Saint Cosme is one of the great wineries in the southern Rhone and produces some of the most sought after Gigondas out there! His little Cotes-du-Rhone though, made of almost entirely Syrah, is one of the region’s best value wines, and this 2015 is stunningly delicious and full of flavor. It always seems odd such a major player in top Grenache based wines like Barruol uses so much Syrah in his Cotes-du-Rhone, but then again so does Chave and Clape too, somehow it all works and the wine is deep in color and character and detailed with dark fruits, a plush mid palate and spicy length. The 2015 was 100% Syrah from Vinsobres and Gard with the grapes partially de-stemmed, with fermenting and aging in tank only, this makes for a fresh style and with just enough tannin to age, though complex enough and plush enough to thrill in it’s youth, and this 2015 does just that and with style! The palate is filled with layers of black and blue fruits, blackberry, boysenberry, juicy plum, fig and a touch of cassis along with cracked peppercorns, olive, lavender oil, violets, camphor, porcini, anise and mineral/stony notes. Round and textured the Saint Cosme Cotes-du-Rhone reaches a full-bodied weight, though still poised and vibrant, this is a class act, especially in this price range, I’ve been a fan of this wine for at least 10 years, I just love it, drink in over the next 3 to 5 years, this 2015 is one of the best yet!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Auslese 2014 1.5L ($119.95) $89 special, 6 magnums available
Wine Advocate 89+ points “Deeply yellow in color, the 2014 Riesling Karthäuserhofberg Auslese (AP #12) displays an intense yet pretty clear and piquant, yellow-fleshed fruit and botrytis on the nose (pineapples). Sweet and concentrated on the palate, with a racy acidity (10.8 grams per liter of total acidity!) and bittersweet grapefruit flavors in the finish, this is a classic Ruwer Auslese. It is dense and pretty rich – the sugar free extract of 39.9 grams per liter – but neither too sweet (67 grams per liter of residual sugar) nor too opulent (8% alcohol). You can easily drink it, but shouldn’t do so before 2020. The aftertaste detects that the botrytis could have been selected even more carefully.”
Jean Fisch & David Rayer, Mosel Fine Wines #28: “Vineyard selections of botrytis-affected grapes only delivered 500 liters of Auslese harvested with a comparatively low 94° Oechsle. This Auslese starts off with a beautifully complex nose of fresh fruits, with pineapple, star anise and spices providing depth to the experience. The wine is superbly playful on the palate, where mouth-watering acidity adds to the aromatic precision. A riper side comes through in the finish tough, with almond, saffron and honey giving the wine a definitive Auslese GK style. 2024-2044.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2010 1.5L ($199.95) $179 special, 12 magnums available
#4 Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2015
Wine Advocate 98 points “The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino is a striking wine that shows uncompromising varietal pureness, albeit in a most concentrated and elaborate form. This is what great Sangiovese is all about. There’s so much happening on the nose and the wine brings you to cherry, spice, licorice, cured meat, pressed rose and grilled meat in equal measure. No one element overpowers the next. The mouthfeel is also tight and bright with the kind of fruit intensity that promises long cellar aging. This Brunello is only at the beginning of a long road ahead. The longer the wine stays in the glass, the more it offers in terms of complexity and intensity. This is a true standout that can be enjoyed for up to 20 years ahead.” ML
Wine Spectator 95 points “Rich, with excellent density, ripe cherry and plum fruit, and a well-integrated structure. Licorice, earth and tobacco notes add depth while this cruises to a long, tobacco- and mineral-tinged finish. Shows balance and grip. Best from 2018 through 2033.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $185
For even more in-stock magnums, visit our web site www.vinopoliswineshop.com
New November Sales
Casanova di Neri Cerretalto, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($379.95) Was $296, Now $279, 14 bottles available
James Suckling 100 points “This is very tannic and powerful with loads of currants, spices and hints of wood. So much stone and mineral character to this. Violets, too. Full-bodied, tight and structured. Massively dense yet agile and bright. It goes on for minutes. Needs at least three or four years to soften. Try in 2020.”
Wine Advocate 99+ points “This is a towering achievement. It is delightful on every level. The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto is an expressive, exuberant and stunning wine that opens to a dark ruby color and rich consistency. The bouquet is never-ending with immediate intensity that is followed closely by finely-tuned aromas of black cherry, spice, grilled herb, clove, tobacco, wet earth and white truffle. A gorgeous display of elegant mineral tones rises from the bouquet with time. Later, those aromas turn to cola, licorice and tar. This wine showed an impressive evolution over the 24 hours I tasted it and delivered solid improvements each time. The mouthfeel is silky and smooth, and there’s enough power here to move the wine over the palate in seamless fashion. This is a bottle for the back of your cellar.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $294.29
The average price is $342
Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($89.95) Was $69, Now $59, 33 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2012 Cepparello is magnificent. Radiant, pliant and super-expressive, the 2012 offers magnificent intensity, with silky tannins wrapped around a core of rich, dark-toned fruit. The intensity of the fruit suggests a warm vintage, but the structure is more medium in body and typical of a cooler year. Today, the 2012 gives the impression it will drink well pretty much upon release, but history has taught me Cepparello often shuts down in bottle. Either way, the 2012 is superb.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $76
R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia ‘Vina Cubillo’ Crianza, Rioja DOCa 2007 750ML ($29.95) Was $24, Now $20.90, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 91+ points “The 2007 Viña Cubillo Crianza is the most affordable red. It is a wine that was born to go with tapas and to be sold at local restaurants showing a combination of fruit and the earth where the vines grow. It is a blend of the usual 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacho, 5% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo fermented in old oak vats with natural yeasts and matured in barrel for three years. The intoxicating nose shows blood orange, bitter cherries, leather and spices in a subtle and balanced way. The palate is sinewy, polished, has good acidity and is not terribly complex nor powerful, but is built more on the subtlety and lightness.This could well be the best Cubillo of recent times.”
We’ve cut prices on 52 wines for the month of November. For the full recap, see the bottom of this newsletter!
Paitin
Barbaresco deserves an ambassador like Paitin. Let Barolo attack with cannon. Nebbiolo from Barbaresco makes its point like a diplomat, agile, precise, and elegant. The wines of Paitin, all estate-grown, define finesse and have enjoyed a devoted following since before Italy’s Risorgimento. Their rich and balanced Sori Paitin, first crafted in 1893, belongs amongst the ranks of Barbaresco nobility. Meanwhile, the Serra bottling comes across more casually, praising Barbaresco poetically like a bard. In order to fully comprehend the Langhe and its Nebbiolo, sit down with a bottle of Paitin. We’ve got examples of Sori Paitin, Vecchie Vigne, Nebbiolo d’Alba, and Serra (including the just-released 2013, arriving soon) so you can taste, and be gently persuaded, for yourself.
Paitin Wines Available Here Now:
Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Serra’, Barbaresco DOCG 2011 750ML ($41.95) $31.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-12 Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Serra’, Barbaresco DOCG 2011 750ML ($419.95) $359 special, 7 cases available (that’s only $29.92/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 94 points “Rich and velvety, yet also vibrant and complex, this red boasts floral, berry, anise, leather and mineral flavors. Harmonious, this turns slightly chewy in texture on the lingering finish. Best from 2017 through 2027. 1,000 cases made.” WS
Antonio Galloni 93 points “Crushed flowers, sweet red berries, spices and mint race across the palate in the 2011 Barbaresco Serra. This is one of the most intense, tannic 2011 Barbarescos readers will come across. Far from an easygoing wine, the 2011 is going to need considerable patience. Hints of sweet tobacco, mint and anise add nuance on the layered, super-expressive finish. The 2011 Serra spent two years in 50-hectoliter casks.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $34
Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Serra’, Barbaresco DOCG 2012 750ML ($39.95) $29 special, 8 bottles available
James Suckling 93 points “This is very silky and refined with chocolate, meat and coffee aromas and flavors, but it’s so refined and beautiful. Impressive for its delicate complexity. Drink now or hold.” JS
Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Sori Paitin’, Barbaresco DOCG 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 93 points “Dark red cherry, plum, smoke, mint and leather are some of the notes that emerge from the 2012 Barbaresco Sorì Paitin. The Sorì Paitin is quite a bit more complex than it was from barrel, largely because the bottled wine is composed of approximately 30% wine that was originally destined for the Vecchie Vigne. As a result, this is one of the few 2012s I tasted that has real upside potential, even if it is relatively approachable today.”
Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Vecchie Vigne’ Sori Paitin, Barbaresco DOCG 2004 750ML ($79.95) $71.90 special, 4 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2004 Barbaresco Sori’ Paitin Vecchie Vigne is marvelous. Dark red berries, crushed flowers, smoke, ash and tar are just some of the notes that emege from this big yet beautifully articulated Vecchie Vigne. The 2004 shows superb class and fabulous overall balance. As always this is a fairly large-scaled Barbaresco, but all of the elements meld together beautifully. A long, sensual finish rounds things out in style. With air the 2004 is approachable today, but it clearly has the stuffing and freshness to drink well to age 25, perhaps beyond. The Vecchie Vigne captures the essence of this great Piedmontese vintage in spades.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $74
Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Vecchie Vigne’ Sori Paitin, Barbaresco DOCG 2010 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 35 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “The 2010 Barbaresco Sorì Paitin Vigne Vecchie hits the palate with fabulous depth and intensity. Savory herbs, smoke, tobacco, incense, menthol and licorice race out of the glass in an intense, structured Barbaresco loaded with class, energy and pure power. There is plenty to look forward to, once the tannins soften a bit. The 2010 has closed down pretty dramatically since the last time I tasted it, about a year ago. Readers will have to be patient. The 2010 spent a total of 30 months in cask.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $81
Paitin di Pasquero-Elia Ca Veja Nebbiolo d’Alba 2012 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 16 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 91 points “The 2012 Nebbiolo d’Alba Ca’ Veja has turned out beautifully. Supple, open-knit and absolutely delicious, the 2012 offers up a compelling mix of sweet red berries and stone fruit laced with attractive floral overtones. This is a classic example of Nebbiolo from Alba, with that extra kick of mid-palate pliancy that is such a Paitin signature.”
Arriving Mid-November from Paitin:
Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Serra’, Barbaresco DOCG 2013 750ML ($37.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 90 points “Crushed flowers, raspberries, dried rose petal, mint and sweet spices are some of the signatures in Paitin’s 2013 Barbaresco Serra. Soft, feminine and gracious in style, the 2013 offers lovely overall balance, striking inner perfume and tons of near-term appeal. A closing burst of energy on the finish adds to the wine’s considerable appeal. Paitin gave the Serra 18 months in cask. The decision to remove seeds has yielded an especially soft, easygoing wine that can be enjoyed young.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Shipping Season Has Arrived
Don’t miss out!
If you have wine being held for cooler weather, please contact us to arrange shipping at this time. Email or call today!
Eugen Muller
Kirchenstuck Vineyard
The vineyard of Forster Kirchenstück, which has soils of limestone, sandy loam and basalt is arguably the best site in the Pfalz region. Overt notes of cherry blossoms and spice are the hallmark of its wines, and in Eugen Muller’s you’ll find these flavors swirling around notes of exotic fruits and citrus. The winery, run by Stefan Müller, sells mostly to a core customer base around the world. It’s not a winery that you’ll find everywhere, one of the many reasons to treasure the heady wines from this estate. We offer two vintages in-stock now:
Weingut Eugen Muller Forster Kirchenstuck Riesling Auslese, Pfalz 2011 500ML ($34.95) $27 special, 36+ 500ML-bottles available
Wine & Spirits 91 points
Terry Theise note “Savagely fine vineyard fragrance, a city made of cherry blossom. The palate is literally stunning in the ferocity of its terroir, endlessly salty and flowery, already expressive and integrated, and lashing and electric… Every year for the last fifteen or more, this wine has been a masterpiece, and I can think of few if any parallels in the wine world—or in my wine world—of such sustained stellar performance year after year.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Eugen Muller Forster Kirchenstuck Riesling Auslese, Pfalz 2012 500ML ($34.95) $29 special, 36+ 500ML-bottles available
Terry Theise note “Every year for the last fifteen or more, this wine has been a masterpiece, and I can think of few if any parallels in the wine world- or in my wine world- of such sustained stellar performance year after year. 2011 is and remains a masterpiece of the exotic flowery style, “a city made of cherry blossom” as I wrote last year. Bearing in mind that these wines are never very sweet, this one is more typical for the “Auslese” idiom. The 2012, though, is a swollen subterranean wave of mineral. You start at OMG and end with WTF, because even in the context of so many great years this is singular and amazing. Fantastically salty and cherry-blossomy, with obdurate length and deeply embedded mineral.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $39.99
Thanksgiving Wines
We’re featuring three estates our picks for your Thanksgiving table. They offer great pairing potentials at great prices, too!
These wines arrive Friday, November 11th
From Domaine Drouhin in Oregon
Domaine Drouhin Arthur Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($37.95) $31.90 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Domaine Drouhin Arthur Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($219.95) $179 pre-arrival special (that’s only $29.83/bottle!)
James Suckling 93 points “This is such a lively white with ripe fruit, mangoes and limes. Then it turns to a salt character. Medium-to full-bodied, racy and intense. Fresh, citrusy finish. Drink now.”
Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($47.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($299.95) $209 pre-arrival special (that’s only $34.83/bottle!)
James Suckling 94 points “There’s a focus and precision to this pinot with refined tannins and beautiful fruit. A medium to full body characterised a firm, polished and tight center palate of fruit and tannins. Drink now.”
Domaine Drouhin Roserock Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2014 750ML ($34.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Domaine Drouhin Roserock Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2014 1.5L ($79.95) $66 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 94 points “This is the first vintage of this wine. Shows intensity and balanced and beautiful fruit. Medium-to full-bodied, silky and beautiful. A really velvety and round texture to this. Drink or hold.”
From Andre Clouet
Our top Thanksgiving Champagne pick for flexibility, value & pairing potential!
Arriving November 11th
Andre Clouet Brut Millesime, Champagne 2008 750ML ($69.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Clouet’s 2008 Brut Millesime shows quite a bit more tension and focus than the 2007, hardly a surprise given then personality of the vintage. Bright, saline notes frame expressive red fruits, flowers and sweet spices. The 2008 Brut is a gorgeous wine with plenty of appeal today, but it will also develop beautifully in bottle. Stylistically it is less overt than the 2007 but places more emphasis on length. Brut Millesime is mostly Pinot, with 30-40% Chardonnay.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $54.98
The average price is $64
Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($479.95) $359 pre-arrival special (that’s only $29.92/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The NV Brut Grande Reserve emerges from the glass with layers of hazelnut, pear, spice and dried flower aromas. This rich, creamy wine impresses for its balance and sheer richness. I loved it.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $35.98
The average price is $46
Andre Clouet Silver Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Andre Clouet Silver Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature, Champagne NV 750ML ($479.95) $359 pre-arrival special (that’s only $29.92/bottle!)
100% Grand Cru, 100% Pinot Noir, no dosage
Antonio Galloni 91 points “The NV Brut Nature Silver is naturally a very focused, driven wine given the no-dosage style. This shows wonderful nuance and depth all the way through to the long finish, with bright aromas and flavors but less of the toastiness than some of the house’s other wines. The mousse and finish are both utterly impeccable in their elegance.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $35.98
The average price is $46
Andre Clouet Grand Cru Brut Rose, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Vivid orange-pink. Aromas and flavors of ripe red berries, candied rose and toasty lees. Fleshy but nervy and focused, with strong mineral cut and hints of bitter herbs on the very long, energetic finish. Smoothly blends richness and vivacity, making it extremely flexible with food or without.” JR
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $54
More Cellar Released Zind Humbrecht
The Zind-Humbrecht winery only dates back to 1959, but the family has been growing and making wine since the 1600s, and it shows. Old wisdom prevails at this Alsatian estate: Get it right in the vineyard. Meticulous vineyard management throughout the year, biodynamics and ploughing by horse, and exclusion of any grapes that don’t do justice to the names Zind-Humbrecht and Alsace, such are the roots of fine wine. In the cellar, the wines stay on their lees until bottling, and ZH abandoned chaptalization in 1993. Only serious, concentrated examples of Alsace and its grape varieties here, including superb Grand Crus: Zind-Humbrecht serves as a reference estate for their beloved region.
Zind Humbrecht Wines Arriving Friday November 11
Domaine Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Thann, Alsace 2013 750ML ($34.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 91 points “Vibrant and zesty, a medium-bodied white with racy acidity reined in by the well-knit flavor range of yellow peach, candied pink grapefruit zest, blanched almond and ground pink peppercorn notes. The dense, mouthwatering finish echoes a streak of smoky minerality. Drink now through 2028. 350 cases made.”
VinopolNote: Average vine age is 30 years. Vineyard is south facing with a very steep slope. Soil is sedimentary volcanic rocks.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Gris Thann, Alsace 2013 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 91 points “Lip-smacking acidity keeps this medium-bodied Pinot Gris lithe and light on its feet, offering a minerally underpinning and a hint of salinity accenting the palate of crunchy white peach, Mandarin orange, pickled ginger and pink grapefruit zest. Drink now through 2028. 140 cases made.”
VinopolNote: Average vine age is 29 years. Vineyard is south facing with a very steep slope. Soil is sedimentary volcanic rocks.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Calcaire, Alsace 2012 750ML ($41.95) $36 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 93 points “A seamless white, light-weight and silky in texture, with mouthwatering acidity enlivening the subtly honeyed flavors of peach skin, orange sorbet and ground ginger, all underscored by rich, minerally notes of stone and smoke that echo on the finish. Drink now through 2029. 500 cases made.”
Domaine Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Gris Calcaire, Alsace 2012 750ML ($49.95) $36 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 91 points “A lithe Pinot Gris, with juicy acidity and zesty accents of citrus peel and ground spice enlivening the well-knit flavors of slivered almond, apricot, sea salt and honeysuckle. Offers a lasting, mineral-tinged finish. Drink now through 2024. 800 cases made.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $46
Domaine Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Gris Rotenberg, Alsace 2012 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “A high-altitude vineyard has produced this delicious, crisp and cool wine. While it has weight and rich fruit, it’s the enticing acidity that sets this wine apart. There’s a poise to this wine that gives style while not losing any depth of apple, pear and spice flavors. Drink from 2017.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “Crackling acidity defines this linear Pinot Gris, layered with stony minerality and offering a sleek mix of crunchy pear, honey, grapefruit zest, verbena and nut flavors. Finely balanced. Drink now through 2024. 260 cases made.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $54
Domaine Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Herrenweg de Turckheim, Alsace 2012 750ML ($49.95) $36 pre-arrival special
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “By rights, the Herrenweg vineyard in Turckheim should be a Grand Cru. Certainly in the hands of Zind-Humbrecht it behaves like one. This is a powerful, rich and totally spicy wine. It has weight and pepper in abundance, a complex wine that’s full of ripe fruits and an opulent aftertaste. Drink from 2017.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “Compact, with firm cut, this offers tightly meshed flavors of white peach, beeswax, pickled ginger and crystallized honey, with a stony mineral undertow that pushes through on the finish. Accessible now, but should open up with short-term cellaring. Drink now through 2027. 1,050 cases made.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $46.99
The average price is $49
New John Gilman Review & New Releases from Crowley
Crowley, one of our all-time favorite Willamette Valley wineries, was just reviewed by John Gilman for their phenomenal (and inaugural) 2012 release of Four Winds Pinot. We scooped up two cases being cellared by the winery, which will be here on Friday. Don’t miss your final opportunity for the 2012 release!
Crowley Four Winds Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2012 750ML ($69.95) $51.90 pre-arrival special, ETA November 11th
John Gilman 92+ points “(Reviewed 10/2016) The 2012 vintage was the first that Crowley Vineyards produced a pinot noir bottling from the Four Winds Vineyard, after having purchased chardonnay here for a couple of years previous. The wine is 13.7 percent octane, included twenty percent whole clusters in the fermentation and offers up a lovely bouquet of bing cherries, pomegranate, fresh herb tones, a fine base of soil, a touch of raw cocoa and a very discreet framing of new wood. On the palate the wine is pure, fullish and nicely transparent, with a fine sappy core, moderate tannins, tangy acids and lovely focus and grip on the bouncy finish that closes with a nice note of beetroot. This is lovely pinot that is approachable today, but will be even better with a bit of bottle age. 2016- 2035+.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $59.99
Also arriving Friday from Crowley:
Crowley Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($41.95) $36 pre-arrival special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Crowley Entre Nous Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2013 750ML ($31.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Winery note “This Pinot noir is our flagship blend. The wine is comprised exclusively of Pommard and Wadenswil clone Pinot noir from our best vineyard sites. Each barrel is hand selected resulting in a quintessential Oregon Pinot noir with extreme purity and depth of character.”
Arriving November 21st from Crowley:
Crowley Entre Nous Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($31.95) $28 pre-arrival special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Orientali di Fruili
The Giant Talent of Fruili
Arriving November 11th
Enzo Pontoni, winegrower/maker at Miani, is a man of great stature. The man, who grew up beside his father in the vines and cellar, stands at almost seven feet tall. Some have called him “arguably Italy’s finest white winemaker” for the Friuli wines he creates. Enzo focuses his yields down to 20 hl/ha, in pursuit of glorious concentration, which has the result of producing amazingly rich wines that are also very hard to find: production hovers around 700 cases per vintage. He organically farms his family’s handful of acres and the vineyard land he rents, some 25 acres in total; ferments with a good amount of French oak; and lets only the Chardonnay go through malo (no temperature control here). Like Radikon, these bottles merit their price. Miani translates to some of the best Friuli ever made. Disagree? Go talk to towering Enzo.
Miani Colli Orientali del Friuli Bianco, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2014 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Miani Chardonnay Colli Orientali del Friuli, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2014 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Miani Tocai Friulano Colli Orientali del Friuli, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2014 750ML ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Domaine Faiveley
When discussing the wines of the Côte de Nuits it is hard not to mention Domaine Faiveley. Founded in 1825, with its seventh generation now at the helm, Faiveley carries a long-standing tradition of winemaking in Nuits-Saint-Georges. But the domaine also believes in progress: pre-sorting of all grapes, long low-temperature fermentations, barrel ageing in the family’s 19th century vaulted cellar. From red and white regional Bourgogne and village-level cuvées, to the estate-farmed 62 acres of Premier Cru and 25 acres of Grand Cru, Faiveley makes wine like a small, quality-driven Côte de Nuits producer. Hence their reputation as one of Burgundy’s finest large domaines.
The 2014 vintage ended up putting smiles on Burgundian faces. An Indian summer ripened the fruit while cool nights preserved acidity. Medium-bodied, aromatic, and reflective of terroir, these wines will drink well before too long, but also cellar just fine. Especially on the Cote de Nuits, these Burgundies show what Pinot Noir is all about.
We offer 24 wines from Domaine Faiveley available here now. We’ve listed a selection of five below. For the full list, visit our web site at www.vinopoliswineshop.com
Domaine Faiveley Volnay-Santenots, Volnay Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 18 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 89-91 points “(12.3% potential alcohol, chaptalized to 13%; just 15 hectoliters per hectare produced): Bright ruby-red. Ripe aromas of black cherry, black raspberry, bitter chocolate and licorice. Juicy, pure and high-strung, showing a sappy sugar/acid balance to the flavors of dark fruits, spices and bitter chocolate. Excellent purity and lift here, and long on the aftertaste. I find plenty of primary fruit character today but also a touch of finishing dryness.” ST
Domaine Faiveley Aux Beaux Bruns, Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 12 bottles available
Burghound 90-92 points “A completely different aromatic expression is present here with its spicy and perfumed nose of black raspberry, red cherry and plum. As one might reasonably expect there is a more refined mouth feel to the mineral-inflected medium-bodied flavors that display a hint of austerity on the balanced and lingering finish. Beaux Bruns is often a rather butch Chambolle and this example is consistent with that tendency.” BH
Domaine Faiveley Les Charmes, Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru 2012 750ML ($149.95) $138 special, 8 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 90-93 points “Good bright red. Complex nose melds red berries, cardamom, flowers and soil tones. Ripe, smooth and lightly saline, with an earthy complexity giving this wine much more flavor interest than the Beaux-Bruns. In a rather feminine style, finishing with ripe tannins and subtle length.” ST
Burghound 90-93 points “An ultra-elegant and intensely floral nose of red currant and raspberry aromas is trimmed in just enough wood to notice. There is a lacy and pure mouth feel to the lightly mineral-inflected medium weight flavors that possess plenty of energy on the balanced, cool and beautifully persistent finish. A classic Charmes of harmony and grace”
Domaine Faiveley Corton ‘Clos des Cortons’ Faiveley Monopole Grand Cru 2011 750ML ($199.95) $119 special, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 95 points “Faiveley’s 2011 Corton Clos des Corton is a fitting conclusion to this great night of wine and food. Intensely saline and pointed, the 2011 impresses for its pure energy and tension. The flavors are vibrant and impeccably delineated in a Burgundy that is all about finesse. This is a great showing from the Clos des Corton.” AG
Stephen Tanzer 94 points “Medium red. Ineffable nose and palate offer red fruits, minerals, spices and flowers, complicated by game, earth and leather. Sweet, concentrated and very intense, boasting outstanding density and a fine-grained texture, with salty minerality giving the wine a weightless impression that’s remarkable considering its density. A strong tannic spine and brisk acidity energize and draw out the finish of this sharply delineated, pristine grand cru.” ST
Domaine Faiveley La Combe aux Moines, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 10 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 89-92 points “Bright medium red. Lively aromas of redcurrant, red cherry and pepper, plus a whiff of game. Shows strong graphite and pepper notes in the mouth, but the wine’s fruit is currently suppressed by sulfur. Finishes saline, dense and chewy, with more obvious tannins than the Chambolle cuvees. This needs the sweetening influence of a racking.” ST
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Faiveley Wines Arriving in November
Domaine Faiveley Meursault 2014 750ML ($79.95) $66 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 90-91 points “(malo 50% finished): Pungent floral lift to the white stone fruit aromas, along with a minty malic note. Dense, spicy and sweet but conveys a lovely light touch for 2014 Meursault. Nicely balanced, fresh, floral wine with subtle length. Production here was cut significantly by hail.”
Domaine Faiveley Bourgogne Rouge 2014 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Domaine Faiveley Clos des Myglands Monopole, Mercurey Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
“A distinctly earthy nose consists of notes of red cherry, floral and discreet wood. The delicious, generous and fleshy flavors possess good vibrancy, indeed the finish is such that it invites a second sip. This forward but balanced effort should drink well young.”–Burghound
Domaine Faiveley Chambertin Clos de Beze Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($399.95) $319 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer – Vinous 93-96 points “Bright ruby-red. Incredibly cerebral nose combines scents of black raspberry, dried flowers, caramel, resin and smoke, all lifted by a lively mineral quality. Pure silk on the palate, but also with outstanding energy and definition to the flavors of black raspberry and saline minerality. A real wake-up call to the mouth! Noble tannins reach the front teeth on the very long back end. Superb.”
Domaine Faiveley Corton ‘Clos des Cortons’ Faiveley Monopole Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($279.95) $199 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer Vinous 93-95 points “Deep ruby-red. Very dark aromas and flavors of medicinal black cherry, crushed rock and licorice pastille. Wonderfully rich and deep, combining a fine-grained texture with superb inner-palate energy. For all its power and concentration, this massive wine boasts terrific delineation. This will take a decade or more to reach its peak.”
Domaine Faiveley Echezeaux Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($249.95) $199 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer Vinous 91-94 points “(from en Orveaux next to the Combe d’Orveaux but situated on a steep, south-facing slope with thin white topsoil): Bright red-ruby. Lovely perfumed aromas of rose petal, minerals and espresso. Boasts superb definition and energy in the mouth, accentuated by a high level of CO2. Youthfully backward and very long, showing no edges. This is always the Faiveley grand cru picked with the lowest potential alcohol, noted technical manager Jerôme Flous. Quite uncompromising in the early going.”
Domaine Faiveley Latricieres-Chambertin Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($279.95) $239 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer Vinous 92-94 points “Dark red. Very pure but subdued aromas of black raspberry, bitter chocolate and minerals. Suave and wonderfully precise on the palate, conveying lovely inner-mouth rose petal lift to the flavors of raspberry and crushed-stone minerality. Totally different in style from the Clos Vougeot and Echézeaux and a step up in precision, finesse and sophistication. The very long, rising, saline finish perks up the taste buds. My projected score may prove to be overly conservative.”
Domaine Faiveley Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($299.95) $249 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer Vinous 92-95 points “Healthy deep red. More earthbound on the nose than the Latricières, offering aromas of black raspberry and dark chocolate plus a hint of game. Wonderfully silky and energetic but dry and unforthcoming in the early going; more gamey than the Latricières. This powerful, saline wine boasts captivating sweetness and finishes very long, with silky, noble, seamless tannins coating the front teeth. At once less floral and deeper than usual for this cuvée. Outstanding potential here.”
Beaucastel En Primeur
Arriving Fall 2017
2015 Chateauneuf du Pape: The Power Vintage
“The cool nights of August kept acidity in the grapes. The Grenache was perfectly ripe after the last rain, quite homogeneous and very healthy. The [late-ripening] Mourvèdre really benefited from the rain and sun and the now traditional Indian summer. They taste extraordinary. Everything is fermenting smoothly. It should be a really great vintage.” –Marc Perrin of Chateau de Beaucastel
“2015 looks like a very serious vintage, with potentially ripe, powerful wines.” –James Molesworth, Wine Spectator
“We haven’t experienced a year of such high temperatures for a long time. The last ones were 2005 and 2003, but there is now 2015 to be reckoned with: a year destined to become legendary and an exceptional vintage in the making. Unlike in these other vintages, the heat was not of the same intensity across all parts of our estates, and on the positive side we were able to benefit from our previous experience, which helped us to cope with the difficulties of managing the heatwave conditions. We now have a year that is coming to an end with wines of exceptional promise.” –Maison M. Chapoutier
Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Vieilles Vignes, Rhone 2015 750ML ($119.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The 2015 Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc offers classic, gorgeous notes of buttered citrus, honeycomb, stone fruits and hints of pineapple. It’s a fresh, medium to full-bodied, elegant white that will put on a touch of weight by the time it’s bottled; it will have to ability to drink well for 3-4 years and keep for decades.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Roussanne Vieilles Vignes, Rhone 2015 750ML ($219.95) $159 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94-97 points “Even better than the Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc, the richer, more concentrated 2015 Châteauneuf du Pape Roussanne Vieilles Vignes comes from a single parcel of vines located beside the Chateau that were planted in 1909. Full-bodied, rich, gorgeously concentrated and textured, with fabulous notes of orange blossom, buttered citrus, marmalade and honey, it will be up with the crème de la crème of the vintage. It’s worth noting that since 2009, the estate has changed the viticulture with regards to their whites, moving to slightly larger yields, with the goal of making a more elegant white that ages more predictably.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2015 750ML ($99.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Chateau de Beaucastel Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2015 1.5L ($219.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93-95 points “I was able to taste all of the components of the 2015 Châteauneuf du Pape and this is a vintage described by Marc Perrin where every variety excelled. The Grenache and Mourvèdre were the clear standouts, both possessing terrific concentration, purity of fruit and ripe tannic structure. This will certainly be an outstanding wine, and it has a touch more concentration than the 2012.”
This is the only listing in the USA for the 750ML!
The next best price for the magnum is $199
We’d like to share our Sherry
28 Different Selections Here Now
More of the Best Coming Soon
“The search for characterful, different, traditional wines made by people bored of homogenization has resulted in an increasing interest for wines as unlikely to be considered trendy as the ones from Jura, Jerez or Montilla-Moriles. I’ve long housed the theory that these yeast-aged wines, because of the chemical reactions between the yeasts and the wine, end up producing umami, the fifth flavor, the savory flavor that makes them so tasty, almost salty, and may I say, addictive. Once you get hooked, there’s no way out. And it seems like more and more people are getting hooked… Welcome to the club!” – Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate
Toro Albalá
Bodegas Toro Albalá had its start in 1844 at the helm of Antonio Sánchez Prieto. Winemaking began in a small village called La Noria, with a focus on fino sherries. By 1922, the company had grown, prompting Prieto’s grandson, José María Toro Albalá, to relocate. Albalá found and renovated an out-of-commission electric power station and promptly resumed production.
The Spanish Civil War began in 1936, leading to the death of Albalá’s brother. José María took custody of his deceased brother’s son, Antonio Sánchez, who went on to study winemaking in both Jerez and Bordeaux. Upon returning from his studies, Sánchez became a consulting enologist in the region before assuming control of the family business. To this day, Sánchez continues the tradition in that same old electric power station under the Toro Albalá name – only the third person over the bodega’s 171 years to do so.
We’re fortunate to have some vintage Pedro Ximénez from Toro Albalá, some with quite a bit of age. There is still a cask from 1844 sitting in the cellar, though we doubt it will ever get past the Albalá family’s dinner table. Even so, we’re fortunate to possess some vintage Pedro Ximénez from Toro Albalá with exciting older vintages arriving this month and in January:
Arriving November 18th from Bodegas Toro Albalá:
Bodegas Toro Albala Don PX Convento, Montilla-Moriles 1931 750ML ($399.95) $279 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 98 points “If someone told you they kept a wine for 84 years in barrel before bottling, you’d think they are nuts, right? Well, that’s what the folks at Toro Albalá in Aguilar de la Frontera – in the province of Cordoba, part of the Montilla Moriles appellation – did with their 1931 Don PX Convento Selección. This is part of what they call ‘vinos olvidados,’ which means ‘forgotten wines.’ The border is amber, with green tints that denote very old age. Such old age provides an array of unusual aromas and flavors, including iodine and salt that compensate the sweetness (403 grams) and even the alcohol (18%). It’s terribly balsamic, with notes of dry herbs and spices, cigar ash, carob beans (algarrobas), incense and noble woods. The palate is very, very sweet and concentrated, unctuous, dense, with a chewy texture. This goes beyond a glass of wine, a drop of it is like having a piece of cake. I don’t think this reaches the complexity and depth of the 1946, which remains the benchmark for these old sweet PX, but it’s truly terrific!… bottles were filled in June 2015.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Arriving in January from Bodegas Toro Albalá:
Bodegas Toro Albala Don PX Convento, Montilla-Moriles 1955 1.5L ($799.95) $679 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 98 points “One more single-harvest, old sweet wine, the 1955 Don PX Convento Selección was bottled in September 2014 and it had been aged slowly in very old American oak barrels and getting thick and concentrated through evaporation. It’s 320 grams of sugar are (partially) compensated by 6.5 grams of acidity. It has a nose and palate of chocolate-covered candied orange, spices, molasses. I’d say the dominant aromas in the nose are dark chocolate. It’s very dense, developing notes of very concentrated licorice and balsamic, mint, camphor and evolving notes of petrol with time. Complex, rare and unique.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Bodegas Toro Albala Don PX Cosecha Vieja, Montilla-Moriles 1973 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Bodegas Toro Albala Don PX Convento L. Opimio, Montilla-Moriles 1934 750ML ($699.95) $549 pre-arrival special
Bodegas Toro Albala Don PX Seleccion, Montilla-Moriles 1965 750ML ($279.95) $219 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 97 points “Small lots of old vintages are released following no apparent logic, like this 1965 Don PX Selección, which is produced with white Pedro Ximénez grapes but it’s black rather than white, bottled in June 2014 with 290 grams of residual sugar. It has a nose of pure curry, aromas of an Indian restaurant, very balanced, not as sweet as others, in fact it’s more bittersweet than sweet, combining the spices with bitter chocolate and with very good acidity that makes it relatively easy to drink.”
Arriving January 2017
Conde de Aldama
Bodegas Francisco Yuste
The Aldama family was among the most prominent in Sanlucar during the 19th century, with vast vineyard and stock holdings. In 1888 the Conde de Aldama sealed his best botas in plaster to protect their value and to prevent their admixture with wines from grafted vines. The botas remained sealed until 1927, at which time the Aldama heirs, facing ruin, liquidated their stocks to begin monastic life. Until acquisition by Francisco Yuste in the early 21st century, only the natural ullage has been replaced. Estimated average age is measure in centuries!
Bodegas Yuste Conde de Aldama Amontillado Sherry, Andalucia 500ML ($179.95) $146 pre-arrival special
Winery note “Already a superb Amontillado upon breaking the seal in 1927, concentration has subsequently multiplied. Sharply perfumed and long, magnetically dry, quintessentially salty and mineral, Sanluqueno Amontillado.”
Bodegas Yuste Conde de Aldama Palo Cortado Sherry, Andalucia 500ML ($179.95) $146 pre-arrival special
Winery note “A rare, ancient Palo Cortado, round and long on the palate with a special tang and aromatic minerality reflecting its maritime origins and aging environment.”
We offer 28 sherries in stock and available here now, here’s a few selections:
Equipo Navazos La Bota de Manzanilla Pasada #59 Sherry, Andalucia NV 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 21 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 points “Same as with the editions 39 and 40, 59 and 60 are also devoted to Manzanilla Pasada, both originating from an old solera belonging to La Guita, starting with The NV La Bota de Manzanilla Pasada 59 Capataz Rivas. As number 30, it has been named after Rafael Rivas, capataz for several decades at La Guita’s cellars at Sanlúcar’s Calle Misericordia until his recent retirement, who in 1986 started a small 15 cask solera with old Manzanilla. Both this 59 and 60 are taken from this solera, and while 60 is from a single cask, this 59 blends wines from the other 14. The average age of the wine is estimated to be around 15 years. Some 3,000 500-milliliter bottles were filled in June 2015.”
Equipo Navazos La Bota de Fino #35 ‘Macharnudo Alto’ Sherry, Andalucia NV 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 4 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 points “The La Bota De Fino Macharnudo Alto 35 was bottled in June 2012, and shows a deep golden color. This wine is sourced from the Inocente solera from Valdespino, and averages 10 years under flor. The idea is that once the wines age for a long time and the flor sharpens the wine, if you continue to age it further it gains in volume and intensity, making them much more powerful and if you like, less fine. An old wine that is a complex gentle giant crying for food. It shows a deep old-gold color, and feels dense and concentrated. The very complex nose is redolent of yeast, chalk, esparto grass, salted almonds and iodine, and keeps changing and developing as the wine stays in the glass. The palate is full-bodied, intense, balanced, ending dry with a bitter note. As good as Fino gets. Drink 2013- 2019.”
Valdespino Coliseo Amontillado VORS Sherry, Andalucia NV 375ML ($249.95) $179 special, 10 half-bottles available
Wine Advocate 99 points “The NV Amontillado Coliseo VORS, is an extremely old (much older than the 30 years certified by the VORS classification) and concentrated wine. It is unique, as its origin is from Sanlucar de Barrameda, mainly from the Pago Miraflores, which produced very sharp wines. Dark mahogany colored, with a bright green border, is very aromatic, balsamic and complex, with wild herbs, candied orange rind, spices and dates. The palate is extremely concentrated, dry, and intense but it has no edges, with lively acidity and an eternal finish. It’s an extreme wine, some might find it too much, but it’s certainly unique and among the greatest wines in the world, to be sipped slowly and in tiny quantities. One of the greatest Amontillados in existence today. Drink 2013-2025.” WA
Peter Liem–“A complex demanding wine averaging over 60 years of age. This actually originates as a manzanilla, spending 15 to 20 years in Sanlucar before being blended and aged in Jerez. The result is an amontillado of tremendous finesse, balancing its vivid concentration with a stelly, racy structure”
Alvear Pedro Ximenez de Anada, Montilla-Moriles 2013 375ML ($27.95) $18 special, 14 half-bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “This 2013 Pedro Ximenez de Anada wine is made from 100% hand-harvested Pedro Ximenez grapes that are dried on mats in the sun, and then fermented in stainless steel, with the fermentation being halted by the addition of liquor. It is then aged six months in 500-liter American oak barrels. A medium amber color is followed by notes of maple syrup, brown sugar, honeysuckle, Chinese black tea and marmalade. This sweet, rich, heady, after-dinner wine should drink well for a decade or more.”
Bodegas Tradicion VOS 20 Years Cream Sherry, Andalucia NV 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 9 bottles available
“This is the most recent addition to the portfolio (so new that it has yet to be reviewed) and completely transcends the Cream category. It also represents the only blend bottled by the bodega with 70% coming from 35+ year old Oloroso barrels and 30% from young 5 year old PX barrels. Here the intensity of old Oloroso blends seamlessly with the dried fruit concentration of the Pedro Ximenex, creating a wine that appeals to both dessert wine drinkers and those seeking a pairing for sturdier main dishes. Being a VOS, it is certified by the Consejo Regulador to be greater than 20 years average age at bottling, an extremely rare Cream sherry indeed.”–Importer Notes.
Fernando de Castilla Antique Pedro Ximenez Sherry, Andalucia NV 500ML ($49.95) $39 special, 35 500ML-bottles available
Wine Spectator 93 points “This deep and viscous version shows good range, as warm ganache, buckwheat, toasted poppy seed, black walnut, rum-soaked raisin, sweet Turkish coffee and prune eau-de-vie notes are all seamlessly layered, while a gingerbread accent at the very end imparts lift. Thoroughly unique. Drink now.” WS
Below is the complete list of our entire sherry inventory. To shop online or read full reviews, visit our web store at www.vinopoliswineshop.com
Our Current
Shipping Promos:
Welcome to the club, Colorado!
Along with Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California,
we now offer flat rate shipping to Colorado. Here’s the scoop:
Single orders of any quantity of wines qualify for the flat rate;
this does not apply to orders held in storage for any reason
or multiple orders consolidated into one shipment.
The flat reach for each state is, as follows:
-to Oregon for $17,
-Washington & Idaho for $20,
-and California & Colorado for $25
Take Advantage of the Flat Rate!
Late Breaking News
Cameron Single Vineyards
Arriving November 18th
As always, these are extremely limited quantities!
Cameron Winery Clos Electrique Blanc, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($79.95) $66 pre-arrival special
Cameron Winery Clos Electrique Rouge, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($79.95) $66 pre-arrival special
Cameron Winery Abbey Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($79.95) $66 pre-arrival special
(Note: there was no 2014 Cameron Abbey Ridge Chardonnay produced.)
November Sales
Read reviews and browse the full selection of sale wines by searching for “November Sale” on our web store – we’re also happy to talk you through the offerings if you email us at info@vinopoliswineshop.com or call 503-223-6002.
